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| USS Yorktown (PG-1) |
Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, April 19, 1899.
CAPTURE OF MARINES.
Ambushed and Taken by Filipino Rebels.
THEIR FATE IS NOW UNKNOWN.
They Went on Shore From the Yorktown In an Effort to Secure the Release of Spanish Prisoners—An Effort Will Be Made to Learn Their Fate and Release.
WASHINGTON, April 19.—The navy department has given out the following dispatch from Admiral Dewey:
"MANILA, April 18.
"To Secretary of the Navy, Washington:
"The Yorktown visited Baler, Luzon, east coast of Luzon, P. I., April 12, for the purpose of rescuing and bringing away the Spanish forces, consisting of 80 soldiers, 3 officers and 2 priests, which were surrounded by 400 insurgents. Some of the insurgents armed with Mauser rifles by natives. Lieutenant J. C. Gilmore, while making…ambushed, were fired upon and captured. Fate unknown, as insurgents refused to communicate afterward.
"The following are missing: The officer previously referred to, Chief Quartermaster W. W. Walton, Coxswain J. Ellsworth, Gunner's Mate N. J. Hygard, Sailmaker's Mate Vendgit, Seamen W. H. Rynders and C. W. Woodbury, Apprentices D. W. A. Venville, A. J. Peterson, Ordinary Seamen F. Brisoless, O. B. McDonald, Landsmen L. T. Edwards, F. Anderson, J. Dillon and C. A. Morrissey."
This dispatch from Admiral Dewey caused much excitement in naval circles as soon as its contents became known. It was received late in the day and considerable delay was occasioned by the blindness of some of the cipher words used. It was impossible to completely decipher it and the asterisk indicate the unintelligible words.
The capture of the Yorktown's men was discussed with much feeling in naval circles. The misfortune was felt with added keenness as the navy has prided itself thus far on immunity from reverses. The admiral's dispatch was the first knowledge the department had that the Yorktown had gone on this special mission to relieve the Spanish garrison at Baler. That the capture should have been affected while the American forces were on a mission of mercy toward the Spaniards, rather than in the prosecution of a campaign, led to the belief that Spain would have no further ground for questioning the condition of the Spanish prisoners.
Although the dispatch gave no indication that Lieutenant Gilmore and his men had lost their lives, yet great anxiety was aroused by the mystery surrounding their fate while in the hands of an uncivilized enemy. This is the first capture of any Americans, military or naval, so that it is unknown how the insurgents will treat our men. If civilized methods were pursued an exchange could be quickly effected, as General Otis has a large number of Filipino prisoners but insurgents have been averse thus far to exchanging Spanish prisoners, and this raises a question as to what they will do with the Yorktown's men. The purpose of officials here is to spare no effort to secure the speedy release of our men.
Lieutenant L. C. Gilmore, the officer referred to as captured, is well known in Washington, having been stationed here for some time, and his wife and family live here. He was born in Philadelphia July 10, 1854, and was appointed a naval cadet from Arizona in September, 1871. He reached his present grade of lieutenant in 1891. His main service has been on the Monongahela, Marion, Bancroft, Vesuvius and Machias. Just a year ago he reported to the St. Paul, then commissioned as an auxiliary cruiser, and served on that vessel under Captain Sigsbee throughout the war. On Jan. 14 last he was ordered to the hospital ship Solace, which was about to sail for Manila. On arrival there he was assigned by Admiral Dewey to the Yorktown.
Among the landsmen mentioned in the dispatch from Admiral Dewey as missing is F. Anderson. His record is as follows: Fred Anderson, landsman, enlisted New York; born in Buffalo; next of kin Christiana Anderson, mother, 256 Bristol street, Buffalo.
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
Commercial Schools.
The legislature of New York is to be asked for an appropriation of $1,500,000 as a fund to establish a commercial school. This will surprise a good many conservative people who have for some time suspected that the whole tendency of modern education is commercial. Why a commercial school, one asks, rather than a social school or a school of politics? Commissioner Miles O'Brien is the reputed father of this scheme, and from his own utterances it may be inferred that he is afraid the coming American man will know nothing about trade or commerce, will lose, in fact, his knack of making a bargain or driving a trade and sink into a useless condition of literary, ethical and scientific erudition, knowing almost everything except how to draw a contract or get 10 per cent on his investment. Now all this is notable at a time when almost every sacred interest of civilization is crying out against the commercial spirit of the age and many excellent men are in favor of establishing schools to teach the young how to avoid being commercial. Commissioner O'Brien, like many men of his class, regards education only as a means of successful business, and it is such men as he who have succeeded in making our public schools simply mathematical workshops. What the community needs now and will need much more in the future is not good business men, but good citizens; for the awful lesson is being pounded into us every day that a man can be one without being the other. Enterprise and assiduity in making money take care of themselves in this climate. We could not be a lazy nation if we tried, but honesty, fidelity to communal interests and unselfishness need every stimulating help that we can give them through our educational system.
THEY GOT THE TROUT
But The Cincinnatus Officer Feared Violation of The Law.
Monday was the opening of the trout fishing season, but it was not very productive for most of those who tried their luck and skill. Many old time fishermen did not go at all, but two of Cortland's younger fishermen seem to have won the plum. Ben Wright and Mac Geer came in from Cincinnatus Monday night with a basket of nearly eighty fine trout. They went over Saturday morning and spent Sunday with Mr. Geer's grandfather, E. W. Terrill, between Cincinnatus and Taylor so as to be on the ground at the earliest possible hour Monday morning. Of course when they alighted from the station at Cincinnatus their fishing rods, boots, baskets, etc., were in plain sight and the word spread that the statute was liable to be violated and a zealous constable prepared himself to defend the majesty of the law. The law was carefully looked up and lines of prosecution probably well laid during the day in case the boys should be discovered violating the law. All this time the boys were deluging themselves with warm [maple] sugar unmindful of what was being done in the village. Monday night when they reached the station and were waiting for the train, the officer appeared and with his foot rule carefully measured the length of each fish in the boys' basket. None were found under size and the boys were unmolested. They enjoyed a good trout dinner Tuesday.
A GREAT CONVENIENCE.
The Safety Casket Lowering Device Used by Beard & Peek.
The undertaking firm of Beard & Peck has just received a safety casket lowering device which they will use at all funerals which they may have charge of in the future. The apparatus is made by the National Burial Device Co. of Coldwater, Mich., and is altogether new in this section of the country. The only other one in this vicinity as yet is at Syracuse, and there is but one at that city.
The idea is to do away with the lowering of the casket into a grave by straps in the hands of bearers. In order to make the footing of the bearers secure as they stand about the open grave it has been usually customary to place an unsightly plank on each side of the grave for the bearers to stand upon. And even then if the casket is heavy unless the bearers are strong there is often the possibility of a strap slipping through the hands of one or another so that the casket does not descend evenly into the grave, and the friends standing close by are filled with anxiety lest the body of the deceased be dropped.
This new piece of mechanism does away with that entirely. A rectangular hollow frame about 3 1/2 inches deep and sufficiently wide to enable the bearers to walk upon it when depositing the casket is placed on the ground over the grave. The opening in the frame is wide and long enough to admit the passage through it of the largest casket. The frame is finished in imitation mahogany, the top is covered with rubber mattings where the bearers will step upon it, and the whole presents a very neat appearance. Stretched across the frame and drawn tight are two ropes joined at the center with an automatic catch. A guide is placed at one end of the frame and so adjusted that when the bearers deposit the casket upon the ropes and bring the head up till it touches the guide the casket when it descends will go just right into the burial case which has previously been lowered into the grave.
When the casket has been placed by the bearers upon the rests they step back out of the way, their duties ended. When all is ready the undertaker turns a little release wheel at one end of the frame and the casket descends evenly into the grave and the outer burial case below. The speed of the descent is governed entirely by the release wheel in the hands of the undertaker. It can be very slow or more rapid, at pleasure. As soon as the casket touches the bottom of the box the pressure of its own weight releases the automatic clasps and either then or after the friends have departed the ropes are wound up again by turning a little crank. The ropes are wound upon a spindle within the framework.
This device was used for the first time this afternoon at the funeral of Mrs. Phillips.
Mrs. L. D. C. Hopkins.
Mrs. Mary J. Hopkins, wife of L. D. C. Hopkins of 152 Groton-ave., died at 9:50 o'clock this morning at the age of 64 years, 3 months and 18 days. She had been ill with a cancerous trouble for the past ten years during a large part of the time being unable to be about the house. She began sinking rapidly three days ago.
Mrs. Hopkins' maiden name was Nottingham, and she was born in Hopewell, Ontario county. She was the youngest of a family of four children, of whom but one now survives, Wm. Nottingham of Tecumseh, Mich. She was married to Mr. Hopkins in January, 1863, and since 1864 had been a resident of Cortland. Besides a husband, she leaves two sons, L. N. Hopkins and Harry Hopkins of Cortland. She was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church of Cortland. The funeral will be held Saturday afternoon, the exact hour not having yet been fixed.
Cortland Steam Laundry.
Attention is called to the advertisement in another column of the Cortland Steam Laundry and Carpet Cleaning works, corner of Clinton-ave. and Washington-st. Just at this season the carpet cleaning department is an important branch of the business done by this concern and special attention is given to this line of work. In connection with the regular laundry work, special care and attention is given to the washing and doing up of lace curtains, a branch of work which requires both skill and experience. All orders for work receive prompt attention and work will be called for and delivered in any part of the village. [Paid Advertisement.]
SIDEPATH NOTES.
Men and Teams Hard at Work—Badges Coming Next Week.
Three teams and six men are hard at work upon the sidepath between Cortland and Homer. It has been decided to change the path from the east to the west side of the street from the fair grounds to the railroad crossing.
The first installment of 500 badges for the Cortland county wheelmen are promised next Tuesday.
Marathon has sent a request for wheelman's badges. They will be sent to Marathon or to any place in the county where one or more wheelmen desire them on payment of the sidepath license fee of 50 cents.
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| Train at McGrawville, N. Y. |
ANNIVERSARY DAY.
The E. & C. N. Y. R. R. Will Have Been Running a Year on April 28.
Friday, April 28, will be the anniversary of the opening of the Erie & Central New York R. R. To observe the occasion excursion tickets will be sold at all stations for round trip tickets to any station on the line for one-half fare, tickets good only that day. This will be a great opportunity for Cortland merchants to get to their stores the people from the east part of the county. Bargain sales can be arranged accordingly and the advertisements inserted in the semi-weekly STANDARD of next Friday and Tuesday and in the Sentinel of next week to reach all the people in the east side of the county.
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| 1894 map segment. |
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| Sanford fire insurance map. |
THE ATHLETIC FIELD
Association Organized the Election of Directors.
The Athletic Field association of Cortland was formed last night in Fireman's hall by a number of those who had subscribed to the new baseball grounds fund. The meeting was temporarily organized by the election of S. W. Sherwood chairman and F. B. Miner secretary. F. C. Parsons made a brief statement as to where grounds could be secured on the Randall flat and told of some measurements that had been taken. It had been thought that grounds facing Main-st. south of the armory could be secured, but this did not prove to be the case. The flat proposed is a field directly east of the armory on Main-st., and extending north to the south line lots on Port Watson-st. Entrance would be made just west of W. R. Hill's blacksmith shop on Port Watson-st. The field proposed would be 460 feet in length, north and south, and 420 feet in width. This may be enlarged.
The chairman appointed Messrs. E. F. Gensheimer, A. C. Walrad and H. D. Ramsey a committee to suggest a board of directors for the organization. They reported the following names which were unanimously ratified by the meeting: S. W. Sherwood, D. N. Lucy, H. L. Peckham, F. M. Van Hoesen and Fred Orton. The name chosen for the organization is the Athletic Field association. The directors were empowered to choose officers, make contracts for the association and secure and equip grounds. If they deem it advisable after making further efforts to secure subscriptions of stock so as to make the total amount what is deemed necessary to accomplish the work. The meeting adjourned subject to the call of the directors.
One of the conditions on which the new grounds can be secured is that the gates shall be left open all the time except when a game or other attraction is in progress, for which an admission is charged. The field can then be used for practice by any one. Young men from the Normal and from the Y. M. C. A. have been in the habit of going up on Courthouse hill for football and baseball practice. The new grounds will be more convenient, and will be the proper place for such exercise.
BREVITIES.
—The Cortland county almshouse has had a long distance telephone put in.
—The T. & R. club will meet this evening at the home of Miss Susie Hannon, 6 Delaware-ave.
—A special meeting of Water Witch Steamer and Hose Co. will be held tomorrow night at 8 o'clock.
—The Epworth league of the First M. E. church holds a parlor meeting this evening at the home of Mrs. H. P. Miller, 25 Pendleton-st.
—A Boston reporter has made the journey by trolley from the Hub to New York. How long before electric cars will be running from one end to the other of the Empire state?
—On account of the C. A. A. minstrel show to-night the rehearsal of the "Merry Milkmaids" is postponed till tomorrow night at 7:30, o'clock and all will attend the show to-night.
—The musicale by Miss Halbert's music pupils last night was attended by a goodly number of parents and friends. The program as published yesterday was carried out in a very creditable way and was much enjoyed by all.
—In the preparation for the taking of the twelfth census of the United States Cortland county finds itself in the eleventh district of New York state, the other counties in the district being Broome, Chenango and Otsego. There are nineteen census districts in the state.
—New display advertisements to-day are—J. B. Kellogg, Special sale, page 6; J. E. Girvin, Bedroom set, page 4; W. W. Bennett, Bicycles, page 7; Pope Mfg. Co., Bicycles, page 7; Bingham & Miller, To riders of the wheel, page 8; Cortland Steam Laundry, Carpet cleaning, page 6.
Michigan Hill, Harford.
MICHIGAN HILL, HARFORD, April 17.—Mrs. Rhoda Tryon has gone to Marathon in the employ of Mrs. C. C. Adams.
Mrs. P. N. Decker and daughter Cecile spent last week in Dryden with her sister, Mrs. Allen Rockerfeller.
Mrs. G. Ruscher is ill with throat trouble.
Mr. Wm. Boice of Cortland was in town on Friday of this week.
Mr. and Mrs. Nightengale of St. Lawrence county have been spending some time with friends on the hill. They returned to their home last week accompanied by their niece, Miss Emma Blakemand, who will attend school there.
Miss Iva Rood of Harford Mills was a recent guest of her friend Mrs. DeForest Kells.
Mr. Hiram Kells of Harford Mills was on the hill Thursday buying eggs for 12 cents cash.
Born April 12, a daughter, Anna Beatrice, to Mr. and Mrs. DeForest Kells. Mrs. Edith Rockerfeller is caring for mother and daughter. Its grandmother, Mrs. Kells of Harford Mills, spent Thursday with them.
The roads on the hill are in bad condition.
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Millions and son Charles visited at Mr. A. Fenner's on Sunday last.
Mr. L. Eugene Witty of Hay Hollow was a guest of his brother, Mr. G. S. Mollet on Sunday.
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